Lesson 2 – Step 3 – Present Simple vs Present Continuous

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Let’s learn something new about the present simple and the present continuous. First, we’ll practise what you already know.

You can watch the video or go straight to the written explanation. You decide! Once you’ve finished, you can move to step 4.

Practise what you know

PRESENT SIMPLE vs PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We examined the difference between these two tenses in level 5 lesson 2. Feel free to have a look.

ACTION AND STATE VERBS

There are two types of verbs in English: action and state verbs. Look at the chart:

ACTION VERBS	describe actions	make- cook- drive -play – jump – stay – arrive – fly – begin –
STATE VERBS	describe states, feelings, or senses	be-need-love-agree-believe-depend – seem – suppose – want – forget – hate – love – matter – need – know – like – recognise – belong – hear – mean – prefer – remember
MIXED VERB	have a non-action and an action meaning	have -think- look – hear – weigh – appear – see – have

We can use the present continuous with action verbs, but not with state verbs:
- I am jumping
- ~~I am~~ ~~loving~~ ~~you~~
Mixed verbs have an action and state meaning, depending on the context. When it has an action verb meaning, we can use the present continuous, whereas when it has a stative meaning, we use the present simple.

She is looking through the window→ Here, look means “to observe”.

It is an action verb.She looks tired today→ Here, look means “to appear”. It is a stative verb.

Ready? Terrific! Let’s move on to step 3 to practise what you’ve learnt in this step.